Loss of reef roughness increases residence time on an idealized coral reef.

ABSTRACT: Through idealized, numerical models this paper investigates flows on a reef geometry which has received significant attention in the literature; a shallow, fringing reef with deeper, shore-ward pools or lagoons. Given identical model geometries and varying only reef flat drag coefficients between model runs ([Formula: see text]), two distinct circulation patterns emerge. One is related to low reef water levels and high roughness, and efficiently flushes the entire reef system resulting in low residence times (an 'open reef'). The other is related to high reef water levels and low roughness, and in spite of the development of an offshore undertow, this dynamic is inefficient at flushing the reef-pool system and facilitating exchange flow with offshore waters (a 'closed reef'). This paper sh

SUBMITTER: Lindhart M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9653433 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature